The U.S. and Russia will work together to develop a space station orbiting the Moon. Canada, Japan, and the ESA have also expressed interest in the project:
At this year's International Astronautical Congress, NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, signed a joint statement expressing their intent to work collaboratively toward the development of a space station further out from Earth, orbiting the Moon, as a staging point for both lunar surface exploration and deeper space science.
This is part of NASA's expressed desire to explore and develop its so-called "deep space gateway" concept, which it intends to be a strategic base from which to expand the range and capabilities of human space exploration. NASA wants to get humans out into space beyond the Moon, in other words, and the gateway concept would establish an orbital space station in the vicinity of the Moon to help make this a more practical possibility.
Let's hope that the station, if built, becomes a refueling station that can store and distribute fuel produced on the Moon.
Deep Space Gateway. Also at The Guardian.
Previously: NASA Eyeing Mini Space Station in Lunar Orbit as Stepping Stone to Mars
Related: Moon Base Could Cost Just $10 Billion Due to New Technologies
ESA Expert Envisions "Moon Village" by 2030-2050
Scientists Scout Sub-Surface Settlement Sites on the Moon and Mars
(Score: 4, Informative) by legont on Sunday October 01 2017, @02:19PM (1 child)
The world is in crisis - the old fashioned overproduction crisis - and in debt. We need serious growth no matter what. That's why everybody is looking for an acceptable pyramid project be it electric cars or space or whatever. Would it work? I sure hope so.
Because if not, capacity would have to be reduced using the old WW method. The preparations are on the way as well and the only question is who will be bombed.
From this point of view it does not make sense to bomb Korea or even Russia - not enough capacity to destroy - but China and/or the US. Unfortunately, Putin is not buying.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday October 01 2017, @08:24PM
But even if we do get to true overproduction on a global scale, we always have recessions, the non-violent way to cut back.